Feeler-loom



J. NORTHROP.

FEELER LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24.1916.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

if Even on:

J. NORTHROP.

FEELER LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1916.

1,372,082. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. NORTHROP.

FEELER LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1916.

1,372,082. Patented Mar. 22,1921

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.Invenlon- J. NORTHROP.

FEELER LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24,1916. 1,372,082. Patented Mar.22,1921.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

u 16 V r J A a a? W Inve T07.- A 22% JONAS NORTHROP, Q]? HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T HOPE-DALE 'MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TTON 'OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- fasten-1.00M.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M 22 1921.

Application filed April 24, 1916. Serial No. 93,217.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jonas NORTI-IROP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeler-Looms; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in feeler looms, and more particularly to a device employed in such looms for engaging the outgoing filling end if it is in the loom after replenishment, and for pulling it out or extracting it therefrom after replenishment and the shuttle has left the shuttle box. I

Feeler looms are a type of automatic, weft replenishing looms, wherein a filling feeler mechanism is employed to determine to what extent the filling on the bobbin in the shuttle has been unwound orexhausted, and upon critical or predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to position the parts of the weft replenishing mechanism for the insertion of a fresh supply of filling in the shuttle. Filling feeler looms as usually constructed are provided, relatively near the shuttle,

with a thread parting mechanism for severing the outgoing filling end, that is, the filling thread extending from the fell or selvage to the outgoing bobbin. During the weft or filling replenishing operation the critically exhauste-d'bobbin is forced out-of the shuttle, and as it falls into the bobbin can or other receptacle provided for its reception, the outgoing filling end, extending as it does from the bobbin up through the shuttle eye, is supposed to be pulled out of the shuttle eye by the descent of the bobbin so as not to interfere with the fresh supply of filling, and so as not to be drawn into the shed on the first pick of the shuttle away from the replenishing side of the loom after replenishment. It sometimes happens, however, that this outgoing filling end is caught between the shuttle and the binder or the front wall of the shuttle box, so that it is held and the bobbin drops to the bottom of the bobbin can without pulling the outgoing filling end after it out of the shuttle eye. In such cases, when the shuttle with its fresh supply of filling is picked, away from the weft replenishing side of the'looun, the outgoing filling end is sometimes drawn into the shed, thereby causing a double pick which results in a blemish in the cloth. It has heretofore been proposed to provide feeler looms with devices for positively pulling the outgoing filling end through the shuttle eye during the weft replenishing operation or immediately thereafter, that is, while the shuttle is still boxed. But in such construction, however, if the outgoing" filling end was caught between the shuttle and the binder, the filling, instead of being drawn completely out, would be broken, and the end caught between the shuttle and the binder would be liable to be'drawn into the shed In the present invention, on the contrary,

the shuttle is first picked away from the replenishing side of the loom after replenishment, and thereafter the outgoing-filling end. is pulled out of the loom, or out of the shed, before the shed is closed, thereby: preventing, a double pick. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to produce a device for feeler looms for engaging an outgoing filling end which has either been left in the loom or whichhas been drawn into the shed, and for pulling it out or extracting it therefrom so as to prevent the occurrence of a double pick. To the accomplishment of this object the invention resides in the improved feeler loom herein after described and particularly pointed out in the claims a In the accompanying drawings'illustrating the preferred. form. of the invention, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a weft replenishing loom showing the application of the subject-matter of the present invention thereto, the parts being shown in the positions obtaining during regular weaving operation; Fig, 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the relative positions of the parts after an actuation of the loom controlling devices following the indication of critical exhaustion of filling; Figs. 3 and a are similar views with a portion broken away, illustrating, respectively, the relative positions of the parts on the first backward beat of the lay after replenishment and. on the first forward beat of the lay thereafter; Fig. 5 isa rear elevation of the parts shown in the previous figures; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the thread hook carrier: and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic views illustnating the action of the thread hook in engaging and pulling out an outgoing filling end.

. The feeler loomin which is employed the device for extracting the outgoing filling end from the shed or from the loom, may be of any usual or preferred construction. The portion of the loom illustrated in the drawings comprises a lay 10 mounted on lay swords ll pivoted on the rock shaft 12 for oscillatory movements toward and from the breast beam 13. A rock or change shaft 14 is journaled in brackets secured to the front of the breast beam and extends transversely of the loom. being connected at one end of the loom with the filling feeler mechanism and at-the other end of the loom with the weft replenishing mechanism. This change Shaft and the filling feeler mechanism constitute loom controlling devices. When the filling in the shuttle has been exhausted to, a predetermined extent, the filling feeler mechanism operates to cause an oscillation of the change shaft; whereupon. on the beat up of the lay following predetermined or critical exhaustion of filling, one. of'the filled bobbins contained in the hopper of the weft replenishing mechanism. is forced into the shuttle l6 and the exhausted bobbin is thereby forced out of the shuttle. In the meantime. while the old bobbin is -still in the shuttle. the thread parter 17 operates, in the usual manner. to sever relatively near the shuttle the outoin'g filling end. The critically exhausted obbl-n then-falls through the aperture 18 in the lay down against the usual deflector b which itis deflected into a bobbin can "21.

ow if on the boxin of the shuttle at the replenishing side of t e loom that portion of the filling extending from the shuttle eye to the selvage should not be caught between the shuttle and the binder or front wall or the shuttle box, the descending bobbin would pull it through the shuttle eye clear of the loom, and no double pick could result; but, if this portion of the outgoing filling end should be caught between the shuttle and the binder or front wall of the shuttle box, then on the first pick of the shuttle away from the replenishing side of the loom this filling end would be drawn into the loom toward the cloth and probably into the shed, and cause a double pick.

The device for extracting the outgoing filling end from the shed or from the loom. so asto prevent the occurrence of a double pick comprises a thread hook which serves as an extractor or puller out, generally indicated by the reference character 25. which consists ofan elongated shaft '26 located beside the loom frame on the replenishing side of the loom, and which is substantially 'QI'BlCZIllY disposed during the normal operation of the loom. that is, during regular veaving. On the upper end of the shaft is formed a hook 27 for engaging the outgong filling end. The lower end of the shaft :6 is removably secured to a hook carrier :8 pivotally mounted on a stud 29 project- :ng laterally from an arm 30 of a bracket ll secured to the frame of the loom. This aook carrier '28 is adapted to be oscillated on the forward beat of the lay following weft replenishment by means of a slide 32 mounted for vertically reciprocating moveaients on the front side of the bracket 31. The slide 32 is provided with a slot 34, the lower end of which loosely engages a pin 35 laterally pro ecting from the front side of the bracket 31. The upper end of the s1ide'32 is provided with a head or crossplece 36 which loosely engages a guide pin '37 projecting downwardly from a boss 38 formed on the upper portion of the bracket 31. The lower end of the slide is prevented from displacement by a washer 33 received on the pin 35. A compression spring 39 .nterposed between the cross-piece 36 and :he pin 35 tends to impart an upward move- .nent to the slide. Downward movements ire imparted to the slide by means of a aook actuator 42 adjustably secured to the rock shaft 12. The slide 32 and the actuator +2 are brought into operative connection at the requisite times by a latch 43 pivoted on stud i4: fixed in the lower end of the slide. During the normal weaving operation the .atch -13 is held out of engagement with the actuator *2 by a stop pin 45 fixed in the lower end of a controller rod 47 articulated it its upper end. by a pin 49 and slot 50 :onnection. with an arm 48 secured to the change shaft 14:. During normal weaving the upper end of the slot 50 rests on the pin 49. which is fixed in the outer end of the arm l8. and the upper end of a cam slot 51 formed in the lower end of the controller rests on a stop pin 52 fixed in an arm 53 of the bracket 31.

When. as a consequence of the indication of critical exhaustion of filling by the filling t'eeler mechanism the change shaft ll is )SClllElUQtl in a counterclockwise direction. and the outer end of the arm 48 is lifted. the engagement of the )in 49 with the upper and of the slot 50 lifts the controller 4-7 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. As the controller 47 moves upwardly, the pin 45 comes opposite a re- :ess 34 formed in the rear side of the latch .3: whereupon the latch 43. being mounted in unstable equilibrium. swings rearwardly until the point 55 of the shoulder 56 formed on the lower end of the latch. comes into engagement with the front end of a lag 5T projecting laterally from the outer end of the actuator +2. It will be observed from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 and the relationship .of the parts as'therein illustrated, that before the shoulder 56 of the latch 43 was.permitted to swin far enough rearwardly to come under t e lug 57 of the actuator 42, the lay had moved forward on the replenishing beat, that is, on the beat during which weft or filling replenishment was to occur; consequently, the actuator 42 imparted no movement to the slide 32.

Upon the rearward beat of the lay following replenishment, and the consequent .upward movement of the forward end of the actuator 42, the actuator lug 57 is lifted out of engagement with the shoulder 56; whereupon, the latch 43 being still in unstable equilibrium swings rearwardly until the inner edge of the recess 54 comes into engagement with the stop pin 45, thereby permittingthe shoulder 56 to be positioned under the actuator lug 57. A stop lug 58 formed on the latch, by contacting with the bottom end of the slide 32, limits the rearward swing of the latch. 1

On the first forward beat of the lay after the replenishing operation as on the other beats, the warp threads pass each other for the formation of a new shed. Just before the warp threads come into horizontal alinement, the lay has moved forward far enough, and consequently the forward end of the actuator 42 has descended far enough, to cause the actuator lug 57 to carry downwardly the latch 43 and with it the slide 32 against the action of the spring 39. As the slide descends, it carries with it acam pin 59 fixed in an arm 60 projecting rearwardly and upwardly from the slide 32. By an inspection of Fig. 5 it will be seen that the cam pin 59 is situated to the left of the pivot stud 29, so that, as the cam pin 59 descends it causes the hook carrier 28 to turn on the pivot stud 29, by which an oscillatory movement is imparted to the thread hook 25. While the latch 43 is descending, the upper surface of the recess 54 presses against the stop pin 45 and carries the controller 47 downwardly with it until i the upper ends of the slots 50 and 51 again rest on the pins 49 and 52 respectively During this downward movement of the latch 43 the lug 57 described an arc, and the pin 45 being moved outwardly by the cam slot 51 the lower end of the latch 43 is forced outwardl tothe position-shown in Fig. 4. Upon the disengagement of the latch from the actuator lug, the slide is forced upwardly by its spring; whereupon, a shoulder 61 formed on the arm 60 engages a lug 62 formed on the end of the'hook carrier 28 and imparts an oscillatory movement to the hook carrier in the opposite direction. and then as the slide continues its upward movementthe cam pin 59, by engaging the part 63 of the hookcarrier, re-

cause the weight of the latch 43 and its stores thecarrier and its hook to the positions they occupy during regular weaving. It will have been observed that during the first rearward beat of the la after replenishment, the forward end 0 the actuator 42 rises, the latch 43 swings'rearwardly So that the latch shoulder 56 is posi tioned under the actuator lug 57, and the inner surface of the recess 54 comes into contact with the stop pin 45. During these movements the arm 48 descends; the controller 47, nevertheless, remains in raised position as shown in Fi 3. The controller 47 is held in this position at this time be- 80 method of mounting are such that the tend ency of the controller 47 to move downward is not sufficient to force the cam surface 64, forming the forward side of the cam slot 51, along the stop pin 52. The controller is of light constructlon, so that after it has been raised by the upward movement of thearm 48, and the latch 43 has been permitted to swing against the stop pin 45, the controller 47 is held in this position until either the latch 43 is disengaged from the pin 45 or until the downward movement of the outer end of the actuator 42 forces the upper surface of the recess 54 against the stop pin 45, and thereby forces the cam surface 64 of the controller 47 over the stop pin 52.

If on the boxing of the shuttle, previous to the weft replenishing operation, that porfrom the shuttle eye toward the selvage of the cloth is not caught between the shuttle and the shuttle box, when the critically exhausted bobbin is ejected from the shuttle this part of the outgoin filling end will be pulled-through the shutte eye asthe ejected bobbin falls into the bobbin can 21, and con-- sequently', no double pick will occur and the thread hook will perform its operation without engaging any filling end, It is thusfs'een that the absence of this outgoing filling end from the loom does not effect the operation of the thread hook, its operation being entirely controlled by the actuation of the change shaft 14 and the movements of the rock shaft 12. On every indication of critical exhaustion of filling, and the consequent operation of the weft replenishing mechanism, the thread hook is moved outwardly from the loom on the first forward beat of the lay after replenishment.

But, if during the boxing of the shuttle, previous to the weft replenishingoperation, the filling extending from the shuttle eye toward the selvagei is caught between the shuttle and the shuttle box, this filling end will be prevented frombeing pulled through the shuttle eye by the ej elcted bobbin as it descends into the bobbin can, and consequently, on the first pick of the shuttle after replenishment this 0 shed. So that, on the first forward beat of the lay after the replenishing operation, (the shuttle having in the meantime evacuated or left the replenishing shuttle box), and the consequent actuation of the thread hook, the thread hook will engage the filling end which has been drawn into the shed and extract it therefrom, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

This invention has been described in connection with a feeler loom, that is, a filling feeler controlled weft replenishing loom. It is obvious, however, that the invention is not limited to application to this type of weft replenishing loom, but may be employed in connection with any type of weft replenishing loom, as, for example, one controlled by a filling fork.

Having thus described my invention. what is claimed is 1 l. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism, thread parting means for severing the outgoing filhng end, a puller out, and connected mechanism operatlng automatically after replenishment and the shuttle has left the shuttle box to cause the puller out to engage the outgoing filling end and pull it out of the loom on the next forward beat of the lay.

2. A weft replenishing loom having, in

' combination, a lay, a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism, thread artingmeans for severing the outgoing filling end, and a device for extracting an outgoing filling end from the loom comprising a thread hook arranged at the replenishing side of the loom, and means for moving the hook outwardly from the loom on the first forward beat of the lay after replenishment.

3. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism, thread arting means for severing'the outgoing fil ing end, and a device actuated by the lay for extracting an outgoing filling end from the loom comprising a thread hook having an elongated shaft arranged below the lay on the weft replenishing side of the loom, and means to cause the upper end of the hook to move outwardly from the loom.

4. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism, thread parting means for severing the outgoing filling end, and a device for extracting an outgoing filling end from the loom comprising a thread hook having an elongated shaft arranged below the lay, and means to cause the upper end of the hook to move outwardly from the loom on the first forward beat of the lay after replenishment.

i5. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism. thread parting means for severing the outgoing filling end, a change shaft, and a device for extracting an outgoing filling end from the loom comprising a thread hook, a thread hook actuator connected with the lay, connections between the thread hook and the actuator, and means connected with the change shaft having provision for preventing the actuator from actuating the thread hook during regular weaving operation and for permitting the actuator to actuate the thread hook upon an operation of the weft replenishing mechmism.

A weft replenishing loom having, in ombination, a lay, a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism, thread parting means for severing the outgoing filling end, a change shaft, and a device for extracting anoutgoing filling end from the 100m comprlsing a p1votally mounted thread hook, a hook actuator, connections between the hook and the actuator comprising a slide having a cam pin for engaging the hook, a latch pivotall mounted on the slide and adapted to ac disengaged from the actuator during regular weaving operation but adapted to be in engagement with and to be actuated by the actuator on an operation of the weft replenishing mechanism, and a controller connected with the change shaft for controlling the position of the latch.

i. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, means for causing weft replenishment when the filling is critically exhausted, and a device for extracting an outgoing filling end from the loom including means for engaging the filling, means for initiating the action of said device upon the detection of critical exhaustion of filling, and means for delaying the actuation of the filling engaging means until after replenishment and picking of the shuttle.

8. A weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, means for severing the filling extending from the fell to the outgoing bobbin, weft replenishing means, and means operative on the first forward beat of the lay after replenishment for engaging the outgoing filling end, in case it has been drawn into the shed,'and .or drawing it out therefrom before the next closing thereof.

JONAS NORTHROP. 

